• pokemaster787@ani.social
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    1 year ago

    Not saying it’s a good idea, but a lot of the complexity surrounding automated driving is actually because you are confined to a 2D space and have to follow roads/road signs. When you can just lift off and adjust verticality to avoid objects all you really need is a way to detect and avoid obstacles and some navigation logic. Landing is probably the most difficult part to automate.

    Not super easy but it is actually easier than self-driving cars (which is why almost all of a commercial flight is running on autopilot)

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      When you can just lift off and adjust verticality to avoid objects

      You need to navigate between objects on an additional access. Also, manage speed and trajectory with a changing mass, as you exhaust fuel.

      Not rocket science, but its close.

      it is actually easier than self-driving cars (which is why almost all of a commercial flight is running on autopilot)

      Commercial flight follows lanes of traffic with regular well-regulated flight paths.

      One thing that gets helicopters and small engine aircraft pilots in trouble is that they don’t have any of that.